Box and Lid

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of the present invention, a box including an open container and a lid for closing the open container is disclosed, the box in a closed state comprising two base surfaces, one of which consists of the bottom wall of the open container and the other of the top wall of the lid, together with at least one lateral surface, which is formed by a container side and a lid side. When the box is in the closed state the container side and the lid side at least partial overlap one another. An inward facing, inclined slide surface is furthermore arranged on the inside of the top wall of the lid in order, when closing the open container, to allow displacement of the lid into the correct closing position relative to the container. The slide surface runs along and adjacent to the lid side at an angle relative to the top wall and the lid side and is remote from the lid side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a box according to theprecharacterizing part of claim 1 and to a lid for such a box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packagings in the form of boxes for snuff, both loose snuff and packagedquantities of merchandise, most commonly consists of a box which isdiscarded when the contents have been consumed. The box comprises alower part, a pot, which is provided with an upper part, a lid, whichallows the box to be opened and re-closed a number of times, often inthe order of 20 to 50 times. Such boxes are advantageously composed ofplastic material. In order to save space, material and costs, the boxmaterial should be as thin as possible.

A known box of this type is shown in SE 524025 and has a basic shapeconsisting of a straight circular cylinder of low height, and is oftenlikened to a puck. Proceeding from this basic shape the box may haverounded edges, a curved lid and a profiled bottom, for example. Alongthe outer circumference of the pot there is often an edge or the like,against which the lid is intended to bear when the box is closed. Thisedge can be produced in that the wall of the pot has a somewhat smallerdiameter above the edge than below it.

One problem with known boxes is that the lid often shows a tendency toend up askew on the pot. This problem is often more awkward and occursmore frequently where the thickness of the material in the pot and thelid is reduced. A lid that is fitted askew may mean that the lidimmediately falls off or that the box is not correctly closed. If notcorrectly closed again, the contents of the box can fall out of the boxor may dry out or become contaminated, or the quality may be impaired insome other way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to produce an improved box whichentirely or partially eliminates the problems inherent in the prior art.

The object is wholly or partially achieved by a box and a lid accordingto each of the independent claims respectively.

Embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims, inthe following description and in the drawings.

According to a first aspect of the invention a box is producedcomprising an open container and a lid for closing the open container.In a closed state the box is defined by two base surfaces, one of whichconsists of the bottom wall of the open container and the other of thetop wall of the lid, and at least one lateral surface, which is formedby a container side and a lid side. With the box in the closed state,the container side and the lid side at least partially overlap oneanother. A distinguishing feature of the lid is that an inward facing,inclined slide surface is arranged on the inside of the top wall of thelid in order, when closing the open container, to allow displacement ofthe lid into the correct closing position relative to the container. Theslide surface runs along and adjacent to the lid side at an anglerelative to the top wall and the lid side and is remote from the lidside.

When closing the open container a box having the aforementionedcharacteristics allows an incorrectly seating lid to be easily shiftedinto the correct closing position in relation to the open container.This serves to facilitate correct fitting of the lid and reduces therisk of fitting the lid incorrectly.

According to one embodiment the inclined slide surface can be formed inthat the top wall has a greater material thickness in a section adjacentto the lid side than in a section more adjacent to the centre of the topwall.

Such a lid design produces an inclined slide surface, which facilitatescorrect fitting of the lid and reduces the risk of fitting the lidincorrectly.

According to one embodiment a groove may be arranged on the inside ofthe top wall of the lid adjoining the lid side, the groove being definedby a low flange inside which the slide surface is arranged.

Such a lid design facilitates correct fitting of the lid and reduces therisk of fitting the lid incorrectly.

According to one embodiment positively interlocking means may beprovided for securing the lid in relation to the open container when thebox is in the closed state.

Such means produce a secure closure of the container.

According to one embodiment at least one dimension of the base surfacesmay be greater than the height of the box in its closed state.

Such a design produces a box which is suitable for the packaging ofsnuff, for example, the box being relatively flat and therefore easy tohandle and store.

According to a second aspect of the invention a box lid is produced forclosing an open container. In a closed state the box is defined by twobase surfaces, one of which consists of the bottom wall of the opencontainer and the other of the top wall of the lid, and at least onelateral surface, which is formed by a container side and a lid side.With the box in the closed state the container side and the lid side atleast partially overlap one another. A distinguishing feature of the boxis that an inward facing, inclined slide surface is arranged on theinside of the top wall of the lid in order, when closing the opencontainer, to allow displacement of the lid into the correct closingposition relative to the container. The slide surface runs along andadjacent to the lid side at an angle relative to the top wall and thelid side and is remote from the lid side.

When closing the open container a lid having the aforementionedcharacteristics allows an incorrectly seating lid to be easily shiftedinto the correct closing position in relation to the open container.This serves to facilitate correct fitting of the lid and reduces therisk of fitting the lid incorrectly.

According to one embodiment the inclined slide surface can be formed inthat the top wall has a greater material thickness in a section adjacentto the lid side than in a section more adjacent to the centre of the topwall.

According to one embodiment a groove may be arranged on the inside ofthe top wall of the lid adjoining the lid side, the groove being definedby a low flange inside which the slide surface is arranged.

A more detailed description of embodiments will follow, making referenceto the drawings attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view which shows a box.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view which shows the open container(the pot) for the box according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view which shows the lid for the boxaccording to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the box with lid fitted.

FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of a part of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 a-e show examples of embodiments of the shape of the basesurfaces, viewed from above.

FIGS. 7 a-c show examples of embodiments of the shape of the boxes,viewed from the side.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view, partially in cross-section,of an embodiment of a box having a lid which has an internal space.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view, partially in cross-section,of an embodiment of a box having an open container, which has a raisedportion in its bottom wall.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a box 1, which comprises an opencontainer 2 and a lid 3 for closing the open container 2. The lid 3 isfree of the open container 2, that is to say the two parts are notcoupled together or joined by hinges or any other similar arrangement.In the basic form shown in FIG. 1 the box 1 with fitted lid 3 consistsof a basically straight, circular cylinder, the interior space of whichis defined by two base surfaces 4, 5, one of which consists of thebottom wall 4 of the open container and the other of the top wall 5 ofthe lid 3, together with a lateral surface, that is to say thecircumferential surface of the cylinder. The lateral surface is formedby a side 6 of the container, referred to as the container side 6, and aside 7 of the lid, referred to as the lid side 7. Other shapes for boxes1 that might appear suitable to the person skilled in the art may alsobe used, such as a box 1 in the form of a cylinder having non-circularbase surfaces 4, 5, a cube or a rectangular block with or withoutrounded edges or corners. FIGS. 6 a-e show examples of embodiments ofthe shape of the base surfaces 4, 5 viewed from above. It will beappreciated that if the box 1 has a cube or rectangular block shape, forexample, the interior space of the box 1 is defined by said basesurfaces 4, 5 and by four lateral surfaces, both the container side 6and the lid side 7 comprising four side sections. In various embodimentsthe bottom wall 4 and the top wall 5 may be plane or arched or may havesome other cross-sectional shape when viewed from the side, which may bedictated by the function or by considerations of appearance. FIGS. 7 a-cshow examples of said embodiments of the shape of the boxes 1 viewedfrom the side. In one embodiment the bottom wall 4 and the top wall 5are each externally arched with the same radius of curvature, inwardsand outwards respectively in relation to the box 1, as can be seen fromFIGS. 4 and 5.

As stated above and shown in FIG. 2, the open container 2 is defined bya bottom wall 4 and a circumferential container side 6, which in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 has a basically circular cross-section whenviewed from above. It must again be pointed out that the box 1 may haveother embodiments as mentioned above, the open container 2 in turnassuming corresponding shapes, such as cube and rectangular blockshapes. With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the circumferentialcontainer side 6 of the open container 2 may in turn, like the outsidethereof, comprise a straight part 8, which is situated adjoining thebottom wall 4 and perpendicular to the plane thereof, and the outside ofwhich constitutes the circumferential surface of a straight circularcylinder. Arranged on the outside adjoining this is an edge 9 directedinwards and upwards, which nearest the straight part 8 may also comprisea narrow edge at right angles to the latter. A flange 10 is arrangedimmediately above the edge 9, directed obliquely inwards, and from theouter periphery of the flange 10 the upper side 11 of the flange extendsobliquely inwards and upwards. An outer side section 12 is situatedabove the flange 10, the side section 12 having the same shape as thestraight part 8 but a somewhat smaller diameter. The inside of thecircumferential container side 6 is plane without any functional parts.

As stated above and shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the lid adjoining the topwall 5 of the lid 3 is defined by a circumferential lid side 7, which inthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 has a basically circularcross-section when viewed from above, and which when the box 1 is closedis basically concentric with the container side 6 of the open containerand situated outside this. At the bottom of its inside thecircumferential lid side 7 may in turn comprise a means 13, which isdesigned to positively interlock with a corresponding means 10 on thecontainer side 6, so as to secure the lid 3 in relation to the opencontainer 2 when the box 1 is in the closed state. Such means 10, 13 mayconsist, for example, of a snap fastener element 10, 13. Such a snapfastener element 10, 13 is shown in FIG. 5 and in this embodimentconsists of a flange 13, which when the box 1 is closed is adapted toengage with the corresponding flange 10, described above, of thecontainer side 6, the flanges 10 and 13 being able to bear against oneanother. A number of ridges 14 intended to guide the lid in relation tothe container side 6 may furthermore be provided around the inside ofthe lid side 7. The ridges 14 shown in FIG. 3 extend approximately fromthe transition between the top wall 5 of the lid 3 and the lid side 7downwards along the inside of the lid side 7 to approximately half theheight of the lid side 7. When the box 1 is closed, these ridges 14 bearagainst the outer side section 12 of the container side 6.

According to one embodiment a groove 15 is arranged on the inside of thetop wall 5 of the lid 3 adjoining the circumferential lid side 7, thegroove 15 being defined by a flange 16, which has a relatively lowheight. The groove 15 is wider than the upper edge 17 of the containerside 6 of the open container and when the box 1 is closed the upper edge17 rests against the bottom of the groove 15, or close to this. In oneembodiment the upper edge 17 rests against the bottom of the groove 15and determines how far the container side 6 and the lid side 7 overlapone another. The upper edge 17 may furthermore have a diameter which isadapted so that when closing it bears against the inside of the lid side7 and the outermost section of the lower side of the flange 13, which isdirected obliquely outwards and downwards. Such a design permits easyclosing. In closing, the upper edge 17 is pressed against the lid side7, so that the lid side is resiliently pressed basically outwards atright angles, which markedly facilitates the first phase in fitting thelid 1. A section 18 having a thickened cross-section when viewed fromthe side may be arranged from the flange 16 inwards towards the centreof the lid. The material thickness of this section 18 diminishes inwardstowards the centre and terminates a short distance into the top wall 5of the lid 3. A surface 19 is thereby formed on the inside of the lid,along which surface the upper edge 17 of the outer side section 12 ofthe container can slide if the lid 3 ends up askew on the open container2. It has surprisingly emerged that this embodiment with a slide surface19 in the lid 3 eliminates or at least significantly reduces theproblems described above, which are caused by a lid 3 that is placedaskew on the open container 2. A lid 3 that is placed askew can easilybe shifted, the upper edge 17 of the container side 6 sliding on theinclined surface 19, over the flange 16 and down into the groove 15.Furthermore, the lid side 7 may

The top wall 5, as shown in FIG. 8, may also be designed with a spacewhich is situated on its side remote from the inside of the box 1 andwhich is defined by the top wall 5 and an outer lid 20. This serves tocreate a smaller, enclosed space which may be used, for example fortemporary storage of used portions of snuff. An example of a lidcomprising such a space is described in WO 2005016036.

As shown in FIG. 9, one embodiment of the box 1 may comprise a bottomwall 2, which is designed with a raised portion 21, thereby forming achannel 22 around the raised portion and inside the container side. Sucha raised portion is described in SE 524025.

Without departing from the scope of the idea of the invention, thedesign may be varied in various ways in addition to what has beendescribed here. Besides different embodiments of individual details suchas the snap fastener element 10, 13 and guide ridges 14, it is alsopossible, when the box 1 is closed, for the lid side 7 to be situated onthe inside of the container side 6, the functional parts of the lid 3and the container 2 being reversed, so that the slide surface 19 in thiscase is a part of the container 2. In such a case the functions anddesigns will otherwise remain the same. These and other embodiments ofthe invention will be obvious to the person skilled in the art.

1. Box comprising an open container and a lid for closing the opencontainer, the box in a closed state being defined by two base surfaces,one of which consists of the bottom wall of the open container and theother of the top wall of the lid, together with at least one lateralsurface, which is formed by a container side and a lid side, thecontainer side and the lid side at least partially overlapping oneanother when the box is in the closed state, wherein an inward facing,inclined slide surface is arranged on the inside of the top wall of thelid in order, when closing the open containers, to allow displacement ofthe lid into the correct closing position relative to the container, theslide surface running along and adjacent to the lid side at an anglerelative to the top wall and the lid side and being remote from the lidside.
 2. Box according to claim 1, wherein the inclined slide surface isformed in that the top wall has a greater material thickness in asection adjacent to the lid side than in a section more adjacent to thecentre of the top wall.
 3. Box according to claim 1, wherein a groove isarranged on the inside of the top wall of the lid adjoining the lidside, the groove being defined by a low flange inside which the slidesurface is arranged.
 4. Box according to claim 1, wherein positivelyinterlocking means are provided for securing the lid in relation to theopen container when the box is in the closed state.
 5. Box according toclaim 1, wherein at least one dimension of the base surfaces is greaterthan the height of the box in its closed state.
 6. Lid for a box forclosing an open container, the box in a closed state being defined bytwo base surfaces, one of which consists of the bottom wall of the opencontainer and the other of the top wall of the lid, together with atleast one lateral surface, which is formed by a container side and a lidside, the container side and the lid side at least partially overlappingone another when the box is in the closed state, wherein an inwardfacing, inclined slide surface is arranged on the inside of the top wallof the lid in order, when closing the open container, to allowdisplacement of the lid into the correct closing position relative tothe container, the slide surface running along and adjacent to the lidside at an angle relative to the top wall and the lid side and beingremote from the lid side.
 7. Lid according to claim 6, wherein theinclined slide surface is formed in that the top wall has a greatermaterial thickness in a section adjacent to the lid side than in asection more adjacent to the centre of the top wall.
 8. Lid according toclaim 6, wherein a groove is arranged on the inside of the top wall ofthe lid adjoining the lid side, the groove being defined by a low flangeinside which the slide surface is arranged.